If you’re like me than you know there is nothing better than a day out on the lake or ocean. Days seem longer, the weather feels better, and basking in the sun with an ice cold beer is just about the best darn thing in the world to do. But when that sun starts to fade, so to could your time on the water, that is, unless you’ve decided to invest in a set of solar boat lights. Now I know that most boats come with some external lighting, however many times this is inadequate for real night time boating. Outfitting your boat with normal lighting can be a huge hassle, and unless you want to spend time and money replacing batteries frequently, they are not a permanent solution. In this article I will go over some of the benefits of solar boat lights, why our team here at SolarSena likes them, and some questions we frequently get asked about solar marine lights.
Should You Get Solar Boat Lights?
Boaters across the world are trying to figure out whether solar boat lights are a good option for them. The answer to this question really depends on your own personal situation. If you feel as though you will not be using your boat at night, then it does not make much sense for you to invest in a set of solar boat lights. However, if you are the type of person who likes to be out on the water when no one else is, are a late night owl or early riser, or you simply want to be prepared in case your caught out past dark, then solar boat lights might just be the perfect investment for you.
Like with most solar products, we believe that one of the most underrated and overlooked aspects is their convenience. If you live in a place with decent sun coverage, setting up a solar powered device is as simple as mounting it in an ideal location and waiting for the sun to come up. Of the solar marine lights that we have used, a full day of mostly direct sunlight is enough to power a solar boat light for at least 12 hours, more than enough for a night of boating.
Backup Battery
With a solar powered boat light, as long as there is a sun in the sky you will never have to worry about your lights not working. Additionally, most solar boat lights come with a battery space for backup power, just in case you did not get quite enough charge during the day. Having worry free lighting is such a convenience, and when you’re on a boat it is a luxury. Solar powered boat lights allow you to not have to worry about remembering batteries, or hope that your wiring doesn’t short circuit. Solar powered boat lights are convenient, durable, and reliable, some of the best things you can for from a product.
Weather Proofing
The next reason why we believe that solar boat lights are a good investment is that they are safe. While it is true that you can find water proof lighting, and that most boat specific lights are water proof, it does not change the fact that solar powered lights are custom built and designed to handle all sorts of weather, just like solar torches. Solar marine lights are extremely safe to use and most are completely water proof. This is great if you have kids who do not know the dangers of water and electricity, or if you simply want to have a safer boating experience. Any way that you can reduce risk is, in our minds, a big plus.
Affordable on (almost) any budget
The final reason why we think solar boat lights are a worthwhile investment is that they simply do not cost all that much money. For as low as around $50 you can get a set of high quality solar boat lights that will keep your deck lit up, your boat visible, and your family safe. While it is not nothing, we believe that $50 is a price that anyone can afford to pay, especially if it means adding a bit of peace of mind when you go out on the water.
How To Choose and Set-Up the Best Solar Boat Light
There are numerous different brand and type of solar boat lights that you could buy. The type you get will depend upon your budget, lighting needs, size of your boat, and your environment. We want to provide you with information so that you can make an educated choice on the products you buy and if there is a particularly good item perhaps we will write about it. Solar marine lights are in our minds a great investment for your boat and for around $50 we believe that anyone can afford to buy them.
To set-up your solar boat lights, you want to make sure they are at a location and angle which will receive a lot of sun. While normally on land you could use our nifty calculator, at sea you’ll need to do some self study and figure it out based on your unique situation.
Conclusion
We hope that you enjoyed this article about solar boat lights. While it is not the most exciting topic in the world, hopefully you learned some of the benefits of having solar boat lights on your boat. They are convenient, inexpensive, safe, and reliable, everything that you would want out of a product that you trust on the open waters. We believe that solar boat lights are a great investment for everyone to make and we hope you consider add them to your boat. As always thank you so much for reading, we hope to see you again on our next article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are solar boat lights useful?
Solar boat lights are great because they are reliable, waterproof, and do not require batteries, allowing you to use them whenever you need them, without having to worry about whether or not they have power.
Are solar marine lights expensive?
No. Most solar marine lights cost between $25 and $50 for a decent quality set.
How many solar boat lights do I need?
This of course depends on the size of your boat and how much light you want, but in our experience 3-5 lights is usually sufficient, and no more than 10 are almost ever necessary.
Solar rail lights for boats
Keeping your railings safe on your boat is critical. Solar rail lights are a great option for renewable-energy powered lighting to keep you, your crew, and your guests safe during the evenings.
